When the announcement of Fu Jinxiao's elimination echoed through the forest, the guests waiting outside were utterly shocked, their faces betraying expressions of profound astonishment.

[Fu Jinxiao lost]

He actually lost.

Could it be? Does this show have a scripted outcome?

Most couldn't think of any other possibility. Their collective gaze turned to the seemingly innocent director, who merely shrugged in response, "We never interfere with the guests' decisions."

This is one of the reasons why renowned celebrities are willing to appear on "Starlight."

It's widely known that "Starlight" has no script. The freedom it offers lets the guests genuinely enjoy themselves.

Meanwhile, in the live chat, viewers were in an uproar:

"He conceded."

"He voluntarily conceded."

"We used to console ourselves thinking the show was scripted, but why..."

"Fu Jinxiao, known for his competitiveness and pride, has surprisingly bowed down."

"This is shocking beyond belief!"

This unprecedented turn of events left many thunderstruck. Concurrently, the trending topics on social media skyrocketed.

[Fu Jinxiao concedes]

This particular trend shot to the top within just ten minutes. Enthusiastic netizens clipped that segment into a short video, leaving the broader audience in shock:

"He's so indulgent."

"As an elder brother, his genuine love and care for his sibling is evident."

"Come on! You're calling this brotherly love?"

"I can't accept them as lovers."

"What era are we living in? Can't people accept same-sex relationships? Policies liberalized years ago!"

"This is against traditional values."

"They might look like a good match, but I think he's not quite right for Teacher Fu."

Opinions flooded in, both praises and criticisms. Online comments polarized — a group of 'ship' fans waved their banners enthusiastically, while others remained opposed. A smaller group of casual observers simply sat back and enjoyed the drama.

Regardless, there's one consensus everyone reached: Fu Jinxiao has a soft spot for Shen Xingsui.

It's unmistakably clear.

His fondness for Shen Xingsui is, after all, slightly deeper.

Fu, the renowned actor, makes no effort to hide this. He has always been open and transparent, to the point that fans believe he's setting them up for some kind of emotional defense.

On the other side, Shen Xingsui himself harbors the same question.

Emerging from the secret room, he repeatedly glanced at Fu Jinxiao, hesitating to speak.

Spotting Shen's hesitance, Fu curved his lips, teasingly inquired, "Something on your mind?"

"Well..."

Unable to contain his curiosity, Shen Xingsui asked, "Why did you choose to act this way? You clearly could have won."

Fu nonchalantly raised an eyebrow, casting a side glance at Shen Xingsui, leisurely responding, "Good and evil can shift in a heartbeat. Perhaps one moment I wished to play the villain and dominate, and the next, I simply changed my mind."

Holding onto a box, Shen looked intently at Fu, softly inquiring, "What made you change your mind?"

Fu Jinxiao paused in his steps.

Shen Xingsui halted too, tilting his head to gaze up at Fu. Fu's deep, dark eyes seemed to hold myriad emotions Shen couldn't decipher. The fading sunlight from the forest twilight illuminated Fu, casting a warm glow over him. Leaning down slightly, an alluring smile on his handsome face and a deep, magnetic voice, he answered, "Because you once said you hoped I'd be the good guy."

Shen's mind raced back to the previous night.

In that corridor, after Fu's query, he'd offhandedly responded. But he never expected that casual remark would determine today's outcome, as though he decided the game's fate, and Fu merely honored his wish, like a gracious tribute.

Shen felt his heart racing uncontrollably, a warm, overwhelming sensation of affection.

From a distance, the voices of the other guests echoed, "You're out?"

Looking up, Shen saw his friends approaching.

"Even Master Fu can lose?"

"Can't believe we actually won!"

"Xingsui, you're incredible!"

As guests flocked to offer their congratulations, Shen felt somewhat sheepish. Casting a sideways glance at Fu Jinxiao, he found the esteemed actor far from downtrodden by the loss. Instead, Fu's casual, relaxed demeanor suggested he might as well have been the victor. To him, winning or losing seemed fleeting.

The production team chimed in, "Everyone's worked hard. There are two days left in our journey. Firstly, congratulations to all the young heroes for successfully guarding the treasure left by the Goddess. The next two days mark the annual Goddess Festival, an important celebration for the Fei people. They've invited us to join in the festivities."

Shen Xingchen remarked, "I think I've heard of this festival."

Ning Ze elaborated, "It's a significant festival, as grand for the Fei people as the Lunar New Year is for others. During the Goddess Festival, they pay homage to their ancestors, offer sacrifices, and host bonfire performances. And when the moon rises, there's a Bonding Day."

Teacher Tuya, a foreigner, appeared intrigued but somewhat lost, "What's Bonding Day?"

Teacher Li explained to her, "During the Goddess Festival, unmarried men and women of the Fei tribe dress up and attend the event. Typically, they'll lay a long table filled with red cords. People stand on both ends, each choosing a cord. After the moon worship concludes and the goddess returns to the heavens, they pick up the cord. If a man and a woman happen to choose the same cord, it signifies a destined connection. If they both have mutual feelings, the one who takes the initiative typically weaves the cord into jewelry to present to the other."

Shen Xingchen, always the wet blanket, asked, "And if they don't like each other?"

Li Xu'an answered him, "Then they cut the red cord, severing the connection."

It sounded a bit cruel.

The director smiled and said, "Actually, most won't choose to cut the red cord because our goddess is truly miraculous. As we're all here for this festival, I hope everyone actively participates, sharing joy with the Fei people."

The guests inquired, "How do we participate?"

None of them had experience in this area.

The director had it all planned: "For the bonfire evening, we need performances. Everyone should collaborate with our local residents to present an act. On the day, we'll open a live-streaming reward channel. All proceeds from the acts will be donated to support minority regions' infrastructure. The guest with the highest earnings will win our grand prize."

All the guests present were idols; presenting an act was second nature to them. By choosing to film among the minority tribe, the show's intent became clear - promoting minority culture to a broader audience.

The guests eagerly agreed.

Shen Xingchen's eventual choice for a song and dance performance was "Goddess Gazing at the Moon". Not out of preference, but due to a random draw.

The choreography for "Goddess Gazing at the Moon" was managed by a young Fei girl named Ah Can.

A phrase often on Ah Can's lips was, "Our songs and dances differ from popular music. Many don't understand the language, so not many like it."

After listening once, Shen Xingchen responded, "The melody is lovely. Popularity doesn't just stem from being easily understood. Quality and beauty can make a song popular too."

Normally, he seemed like an ordinary, albeit handsome, young man. But when discussing music, his entire aura changed. Holding the score, he radiated confidence and mastery, a king in his domain.

Impressed by his demeanor, Ah Can asked, "How can our songs become popular given the language barrier?"

"How about this? Let's translate the song into Mandarin and perform it," Shen Xingchen proposed. "Given many in our audience will be Han Chinese, this could represent the bond between our cultures."

Ah Can, dazzled by the idea, asked, "Is that possible?"

Shen Xingchen nodded firmly, "Certainly. Translating it may be challenging, so we could change just the chorus, merging both languages there. For instance..."

Even the most challenging songs seemed effortless for Shen Xingchen to adapt and compose, his extraordinary talent shining.

Shen Xingchen spent the night revising the piece. By dawn, it was finalized and ready for rehearsal.

"This is amazing!" After hearing the revised song, Ah Can's eyes sparkled, "It feels both familiar and new. It’s like some of the catchy pop music I've heard but retains our tribe's uniqueness."

Standing beside her, the elegant young man replied humbly, "Your song was already beautiful. I just added some touches."

Ah Can playfully chided, "No need to be modest!"

Shen Xingchen chuckled sheepishly.

After hearing it, the audience in the live stream couldn't help but:

"He's the most spirited original singer I've seen in the music industry over these years."

"He has a truly promising future."

"Had he debuted a few years earlier, he would be no less successful than Jian Zhi."

"Honestly, I think he's destined to become someone notable."

Now that the song is chosen, it's a matter of the dance.

After the adaptations, Shen Xingsui had already established friendly ties with these members of the Fei tribe.

Ah Can proactively suggested, "Xingsui, since we've already assigned roles for this song and dance, we discussed it yesterday and felt that you might not have enough time to learn the whole routine. Fortunately, we have a role that requires minimal movement which you can take."

Shen Xingsui was pleasantly surprised, "What role is it?"

Ah Can flashed a mysterious smile, sending a shiver down Shen Xingsui's spine even in broad daylight.

...

evening

The annual Goddess Festival of the Fei tribe began.

For the first time, this mysterious ethnic group showcased their grand celebration to the world. As a result, the live stream garnered an unprecedented number of views. Many households watched it as a feast of cultural exploration.

As the torches were lit in front of the massive Goddess statue, the grand ancestral worship ceremony commenced.

Hundreds of Fei tribe members attended in their finest garments, all adorned in azure with silver accessories. They gathered systematically in the square, and under the leadership of the chieftain, each person performed a prayer gesture, then danced collectively, knelt in worship, and as the torches blazed, the solemn and grand scene moved the soul.

The Goddess statue looked tenderly and pitied the world as if genuinely listening to their prayers.

With the chieftain's command, the feast began.

Guest performers took turns presenting their acts. After the live streaming platform enabled gifts, the on-screen special effects never stopped. Earlier performances were very successful, especially An Ran's dance which stunned many, including the rare singing performance by Fu Jinxe, which created quite a buzz.

Finally, it was the turn of "Goddess Gazing at the Moon."

By this point, expectations were high due to the previous performances. Many thought that Shen Xingsui's act couldn’t surpass the earlier ones, but when the Goddess group appeared on stage, there was a collective gasp.

Because…

No one could identify Shen Xingsui!

Neither the dancing men nor the women were him. Only the Goddess in the center, doing just a few simple moves, remained.

As the moon gently rose, the Goddess, clad in a pristine moon-white robe with a light yellow sash fluttering around the waist, wore a silver crown with tassels that shimmered with her movements. A white veil on her face added an aura of mystery, enhancing her ethereal beauty. Her tall, slender figure, agile demeanor, wind-swept hair, and graceful dancing made her appear divinely beautiful.

The camera focused on her from all angles, capturing her unparalleled beauty.

The live stream audience was agog:

"Is Xingsui the Goddess?"

"I just wondered who this beauty was!"

"The word 'darling' gets stuck in my throat, unable to be voiced."

"Oh, I never dreamed Shen Xingsui could be this stunning."

Just as the audience was buzzing and pondering, it reached the chorus. Shen Xingsui, with a microphone tucked into his collar, began to sing. His voice was deep yet elegant, but possessed an ethereal feminine quality. It was his first attempt at a female vocal; while a tad nervous, he perfectly conveyed the fervor and tremors of the song.

The melodious and agile voice, broadcast clearly, combined with the heartfelt sincerity of the Fei people's chorus, electrified the atmosphere. Most viewers were so excited they felt chills:

"This is simply astounding."

"Is that really Shen Xingsui's voice in the female pitch?"

"It really is him, the timbre is unchanged, but his rendition is breathtaking."

"Gave me goosebumps, incredibly beautiful."

"The stage design and musical arrangement have shown how much he's progressed since his talent show days."

Not only was the live chat in an uproar, but this performance trended everywhere. Shen Xingsui's enchanting appearance and voice captured everyone's attention, bringing him into the limelight not because of rumors or scandals but his sheer talent, catching the eyes of music producers everywhere.

Even those unfamiliar with him were drawn in:

"She looks absolutely stunning."

"And her singing is wonderful."

"Who is this?"

"Where is this being broadcast? I want to watch too."

At the end of the performance, the online tips for "Goddess Gazing at the Moon" astonishingly surpassed a million.

The number of viewers in Shen Xingsui's live stream room broke 100 million for the first time, making him the second most-watched guest after Fu Jinxiao.

As Shen Xingsui stepped off the stage, his legs were trembling. Despite appearing calm on stage, he was internally panicked. Almost tripping, someone caught him. He whispered, "Thank you..."

A chuckle came from nearby: "You're welcome."

Raising his head, Shen Xingsui met Fu Jinxiao's gaze. Blushing, he instinctively tried to cover his face.

Fu Jinxiao remarked, "What are you hiding from?"

A flustered Shen Xingsui replied, "This get-up..."

"Comrade Shen," Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, leisurely saying, "With the way you're looking at me, those unaware might think I'm flirting with a village maiden."

Shen Xingsui's face turned even redder: "Please, no jokes."

Fu Jinxiao indeed tempered his usually casual demeanor. He was standing there for a reason, shielding Shen Xingsui from many prying and ambitious eyes, all because of him.

Even with the veil covering part of his face, Shen Xingsui couldn't conceal his noble aura and radiant beauty. Oblivious to this, he said hesitantly, "Do I look strange in this? I told Ah Can I couldn't pull it off, but he insisted..."

Removing his coat, Fu Jinxiao draped it over Shen's shoulders, "Not at all."

Shen Xingsui paused, taken aback.

"You look beautiful."

Fu Jinxiao's voice was deep, his compliment sincere and heartfelt. This earnestness momentarily stunned Shen Xingsui, who had been feeling slightly embarrassed. Yet, hearing such praise, a subtle joy began blossoming within him.

Yet, Fu Jinxiao added, "But wear this less often."

Startled, Shen Xingsui asked, "Why?"

Not out of any personal fancy, but out of sheer curiosity and perhaps the fear of being judged, he pressed on.

Fu Jinxiao gave him a meaningful look, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Shen Xingsui felt the weight of a thousand unsaid words in that glance.

...

After the performance was the main event of the evening.

The Destiny Strings.

Shen Xingsui wasn’t really interested in it, not hoping that the divine lady would randomly assign him a destined partner. Yet, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Thus, he participated in the ritual.

Many long threads lay on a table. Shen Xingsui picked one, attaching a wooden token to it as per the custom, to hang on a tree. Once the torch burnt out, he would retrieve the token and see who else had chosen the same string, revealing his match.

Shen Xingchen teased, "What if we end up with the same string?"

Laughing, Shen Xingsui replied, "I doubt the divine lady would arrange that."

Shen Xingchen, merely joking, soon went off to mingle with others.

As night deepened and Shen Xingsui finished tying his token, he remembered something crucial. He checked the time and began to get anxious.

With the live show almost wrapping up, he excused himself and discreetly returned to his lodging, borrowing the small kitchen.

By the time the guests realized Shen Xingsui was missing, it was past eleven.

The director announced, "Everyone has worked hard. Xingsui has already left. You all should rest."

As everyone had paired up for accommodations, when Fu Jinxiao leisurely returned, he noticed Shen Xingsui's bedroom light was off. However, a faint glow came from the kitchen.

Entering, he saw steam rising from a pot, with Shen Xingsui busily preparing something.

Surprised, Fu Jinxiao inquired, "What are you doing?"

"You're back!" Shen Xingsui, startled, almost scalded himself, "Sit in the courtyard. I'll be done soon."

As Fu Jinxiao approached, he realized Shen Xingsui was cooking noodles. The quaint kitchen lacked packaged noodles. There was a bowl of flour nearby, evidence of hand-rolled dough. The unevenly sized noodles in the bowl were accompanied by a boiled egg and chopped green onions.

Fu Jinxiao suddenly had an inkling. His eyes darkened momentarily, but a smile formed on his lips. "Did grandmother tell you?"

Shen Xingsui nodded gently, a hint of nervousness evident. "I'm sorry... I found out without telling you."

"There's nothing to apologize for." Standing under the light, Fu Jinxiao, who usually wore an indifferent expression, revealed a tender smile. "I should be thanking you."

Shen Xingsui let out a sigh of relief.

Indeed, today was Fu Jinxiao's birthday, but also the anniversary of his mother's passing.

The Fu family always postponed celebrating the birthday by a couple of weeks due to the painful association. Even the date Fu Jinxiao announced publicly was days later. Nobody ever truly celebrated his birthday. Only the elderly matriarch knew that every year, this particular day was the hardest for him. Nobody wished him a happy birthday; as if his very existence wasn't something to be celebrated.

Fu Jinxiao was introspective, keeping things bottled up, never speaking out. But what he truly felt remained a mystery. The old woman, however, once caught a glimpse of a young Fu Jinxiao secretly eating a small cake he bought for himself. To the world, the heir of the Fu family appeared to have it all, yet he was just a lonely child, hiding in corners even on his birthday.

Shen Xingsui placed the noodles on the table outside, sitting next to Fu Jinxiao, she awkwardly said, "I've never been good at cooking. Being in the village doesn't help. I had to make do and roll the dough myself. If it doesn't taste good..."

Fu Jinxiao accepted the bowl of noodles.

It might have been the simplest, most unevenly prepared meal he had had in years. Those familiar with him knew of his fastidious nature, but in that moment, he quietly and gracefully began to eat, finishing the bowl with care.

He left the egg untouched.

Shen Xingsui, looking puzzled, watched as Fu Jinxiao offered her the egg, saying, "You've been busy all evening. Have something to eat. I'll prepare something else for you in a bit."

Without hesitation, Shen Xingsui took a bite, commenting, "I think I cooked it well this time."

Fu Jinxiao gave a small, knowing smile. "Yes, it tastes quite good."

It was just a simple bowl of noodles, but between the two of them – one eating the egg, the other the noodles – they managed to finish every bit.

Setting down his chopsticks, Fu Jinxiao remarked, "The food wasn't bad at all. I found it delicious."

The anxiety that Shen Xingsui had been holding onto vanished, and she exhaled, "That's good to hear."

From the nearby square, the eternal flames burned brightly. It was a major festival for the Fei clan, and even at night, the square was alive with singing, dancing, and the occasional burst of fireworks.

Fu Jinxiao spoke, "I'll go and prepare something else for you to eat."

Shen Xingsui quickly grabbed his arm, "Wait."

Fu Jinxiao looked at her, a touch surprised.

Settling back into his seat, Shen Xingsui carefully produced a small box from her bosom, handing it to Fu Jinxiao, "This is a gift."

Fu Jinxiao had received countless rare and exotic gifts throughout his life.

He lacked for nothing, and no gift could truly surprise him. But upon opening the box, he found a hand-carved wooden flower, clearly crafted by an amateur with several noticeable imperfections. Yet, under the dim light, Fu Jinxiao noticed the faint knife marks on Shen Xingsui's fingers.

He had observed these marks when tending to her wounds days before and made a mental note to investigate. Little did he know it was all for this.

This somewhat clumsily carved Lingxiao flower was meticulously crafted by the young man before him. Though it wasn’t the most lavish gift, it was the most treasured present Fu Jinxiao had ever received.

Shen Xingsui said with slight anxiety, “It might appear rudimentary, but I couldn’t think of anything you might lack. I've rarely made handcrafts since childhood…”

Fu Jinxiao replied softly, “I adore it.”

Relief washed over Shen Xingsui, a glimmer of joy shining in his eyes, feeling all his efforts were worthwhile.

However, Fu Jinxiao added, “I have something for you too.”

Shen Xingsui paused, recalling that today wasn’t his birthday.

Yet, Fu Jinxiao retrieved a wooden tag from his pocket — the same fate tag Shen Xingsui tied to the tree earlier that day. On seeing it, Shen Xingsui exclaimed, “What a coincidence! Were our tags tied by the same string?”

Fu Jinxiao chuckled, as if looking at a naïve child, “Such coincidences don't exist.”

Shen Xingsui wondered, “Then…”

“I searched every tag near that tree,” Fu Jinxiao whispered. “It took some time, but I found it.”

It was then Shen Xingsui noticed that the string connecting their fate tags had been purposely tied together with a firm knot. Their paths, initially distant, became intertwined by design.

Yet…

Still…

Their strings had merged.

Gazing at the connected wooden tags, emotions Shen Xingsui had suppressed suddenly surged, making his eyes glisten and his hands tremble as he grasped the tag. “You found it?”

Fu Jinxiao nodded, “Yes.”

Shen Xingsui asked, looking up, “Why?”

Nearby, the plaza was illuminated, fireworks lighting up the sky, adding splendor and romance to the evening. The statue of the goddess stood tall, with the gentle spring breeze flowing. The man sitting opposite him was his moonlight, for whom his affection never waned.

“Because I wanted to be with you,” Fu Jinxiao declared with clarity and conviction, sitting beside him. “That’s why I found it.”

Shen Xingsui’s heart raced. He had often wondered if Fu Jinxiao might feel the same way about him, yet he never dared to be certain.

But with so many tags on that tree…

How long had Fu Jinxiao searched?

He didn't have to go through all that trouble, yet he did.

Much like their fate, initially improbable and seemingly inconclusive, Fu Jinxiao still found him amidst the vast sea of faces, and among countless tags, he found Shen Xingsui’s.

Tears welled up in Shen Xingsui’s eyes. He felt overwhelmed by joy, almost stammering, “How did you manage to find it among so many tags? I thought it was impossible…”

The man opposite him, with his handsome features, still made Shen Xingsui’s heart flutter, even after all the times they had met.

They were so close to each other, close enough to feel each other's breath, close enough to seem as if they could lean on each other indefinitely, so close that Shen Xingsui wondered if this could all be a dream.

Fu Jinxe said, "Nothing is impossible."

Fireworks erupted over the square again, with the silent statue of the goddess standing as if silently blessing all beings, and brilliant fireworks crackled in the night sky.

Fu Jinxe leaned down, tenderly and devoutly pressing a kiss upon the lips of the person beside him. Their bodies drew nearer, the kiss deepening. The wooden tags tied with a red string slid off the table, winding around Shen Xingsui's hand and falling onto Fu Jinxe, binding them together as though fate had intertwined them.

Fu Jinxe's voice was deep and magnetic, his eyes slightly dimmed, looking at the flushed lips before him, whispering, "Because I love you."

So no matter the distance,

No matter if the string was ever broken,

I would find you.